China condemns strike sans naming Pakistan

| | New Delhi
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China condemns strike sans naming Pakistan

Sunday, 17 February 2019 | PNS | New Delhi

China condemns strike sans naming Pakistan

A day after it expressed shock over the Pulwama terror attack, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday sent a condolence message to Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj denouncing “all forms of terrorism” which it claimed is “the common enemy of mankind”.  The message, however, did not make any reference either Pakistan or Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the terror group which has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a letter to Sushma, Wang Yi on behalf of the Chinese Government, conveyed sympathy to the families of the 40 CRPF jawans who were killed after a suicide bomber vehicle rammed into their bus in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday. The statement from Beijing came at a time when India has received condolences from several nations, including the United Nations. The White House even asked Pakistan to immediately end “support” and “safe haven” to all terror groups.

Wang Yi said he was “shocked to learn that a suicide attack was carried out in Kashmir and heavy casualties were caused. A statement by the Chinese embassy read “Wang Yi stressed that terrorism is the common enemy of mankind. The Chinese side resolutely opposes and strongly condemns all forms of terrorism.

Countries in the region should enhance cooperation, jointly address the threat of terrorism and maintain regional peace and security.”

However, China, who has been single-handedly blocking India’s bid to designate Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar from being listed as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council, refused to budge and comment on the terror group and its leader.

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a media briefing: “China has noted the reports of suicide terrorist attack. We are deeply shocked by this attack. We express deep condolences and sympathy to the injured and bereaved families.”

In response to questions on the Pulwama attack, Geng said China condemned the incident as part of its overall stand on terrorism. “We firmly oppose and strongly condemn all forms of terrorism. We hope relevant regional countries will cooperate to cope with the threat of terrorism and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. As for the issue of listing, I could tell you that the 1267 Committee of Security Council has a clear stipulation on the listing and procedure of terrorist organisations,” he said.

Earlier, India held a briefing on Friday for envoys of 25 countries including Germany, South Korea, Japan, as well as Australia, including from P5 nations -- the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and France -- to highlight Pakistan’s role in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy.

Before the briefing, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale summoned Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood to his South Block office and issued a very strong demarche over the attack in which at least 41 CRPF personnel were killed.

Pakistan must take ‘immediate and verifiable action’ against the Jaish-e-Mohammed and that it must immediately stop any groups or individuals associated with terrorism operating from its territories, Gokhale told the envoy.

India has already decided to remove “Most Favoured Nation” privileges given to Pakistan, and said it will work to ensure the country’s isolation globally. Most Favoured Nation status is given to a trade partner to ensure non-discriminatory trade between two nations.

India had also appealed to members of the international community to back the naming of Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a “UN designated terrorist” and “to ban terrorist organisations operating from territories controlled by Pakistan”, a clear reference to China which has been blocking all efforts to ban Azhar at the United Nations. Though countries like the US, the UK, Russia and France have asserted that they stand with India in combating the menace of terrorism, China still refuses to change its stand on Jaish chief Masood Azhar.

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